Clubs affected by noise rules form PAC

The Greater Houston Entertainment Coalition Political Action Committee grew out of an alliance of club owners worried that new city noise rules will hurt business and the local music scene.

“Our goal is to begin constructively working with the City of Houston, the Houston Police Department, and other organizations and stakeholders to address growing concerns regarding our industry, more specifically the recently passed amendments to the noise ordinance,” said Stephen Bundrick, GHEC-PAC treasurer and professional sound engineer, in a released statement.

Because the entertainment group filed as a specific purpose PAC focusing on the noise ordinance, it cannot make contributions to individual Council or mayoral candidates, though it can change purpose later.

PAC spokesman Joshua Sanders said the committee has no intention of funding candidates, but will raise money for research and communications in support of objective standards in regulating sound. The group has also formed a trade association to represent the industry on future issues.

Club owners organized as the city began tinkering with its noise ordinance. In October, City Council approved changes so that noise makers can be cited for bass notes that police officers can feel on the sidewalk. Council also doubled the fine on violators to $1,000. The amendments did not change the decibel level limit. Club owners believe the changes introduce ambiguity into the law.

The city continues to hone the ordinance and has scheduled a public meeting at the EB Cape Center at 4501 Leeland on Thursday at 7 p.m.

“Although we recognize the need for balance between businesses and neighborhood concerns, we feel there is still a lot of work to be done to achieve that goal, said Michael Paolucci, owner of several bars in the Midtown area, in a released statement. “That is why we have taken it upon ourselves as an industry to provide meaningful feedback and professional expertise on these types of issues.”